Recent reviews by Narrelama

Actually scratches that itch I still have from those classic XCOM games, and this - Xenonauts 2 features some neat conveniences.

It is, however, still being hammered out, but to me it seems well worth the money.

I would only maybe want they draw out the pacing - well actually a lot. No need for a new xenoform for every single or every other mission. One of the things I didn't like about the new incarnations of XCOM was how terribly they handled pacing. I hope the makers of Xenonauts drag things a bit more out (not in the sense of things being easier - but allowing you to get a bit familiar with one set of aliens before you meet something new - don't throw a multitude of aliens at me and then end the game).

Another thing maybe that I'd like the trouble to actually have to research the biopsies, and alien tactics. I also want an alien container, and good cause to capture live aliens (and the danger that aliens contained in the base in an unupgraded alien containment facility may escape and cause an incident).

Some graphical customization would of course also be nice. Not asking for much - I have tossed thousands of hours at Rimworld. But not essential.

Sound effects largely good. Game largely good. Very neat how the tactical maps' landscape and timing reflect where and when you are and what you are doing. Some more maps in due time?

Mod support?

dull. Pricey. The ai is pretty lame. Unfun, quite cheezy. A bit challanging at first but overall too easy, ubalanced, and base game unplatable without addons - all of which are really pretty lame, unimaginative, repetative.

No

It remains less interesting and less rewarding than CKII.
Maybe it becomes more interesting in the future -once they have finally gotten all the DLC's out. But now - no. Unless you are a devotee of Paradox, or allergic to the simpler graphics of CKII, CKII is simply better, more immersive and permits much more interesting gameplays than CKIII. Even Elder Scrolls for CKIII is kind'a boring - even with the improved graphics, when compared to CKII. The Game of Thrones total conversion for CKIII I have not even bothered trying. There are so much gameplay you could do with politics and religion in CKII that is simply impossible here.

So unless you are a sucker for 3d modelling, or what you actually want is a cross between Sims and some incest simulator, you should not feel incentivized to buy this.. indeterminate muddle

Completely pointless. Everything is worse executed than in Sims 3. Only thing that might justify you getting this game *MIGHT* be if you are one of those that make animated movies with Sims, and you want to make them look slightly better. But then, you can't port your saves from Sims 3 - which will be SUPERIOR - into this game and animate them here, and then I ask again, why waste your time with this? SERIOUSLY - this game is somewhere between Sims1 and Sims 3 when it comes to gameplay and immersion. Lazy ♥♥♥♥♥. And of course, there are Nothing new compared to Sims3. No innovations, no improvements - aside from graphics, and that even is a matter of taste. Frankly, the buildmenus look like something from a mobile app when compared to Sims 3. This is utter Sh1te

As open a sandbox colony builder you could wish for. Like Prison Architect, only better, with near endless scope. You can customize nearly every aspect of this game, which has been fully functional since first release I might add, and is very moddable. But you won't NEED mods to play it, and the DLC is optional.

It is comical at times, punitive at times, sometimes surprising - and surprisingly engrossing. The graphics are cute, but if you don't like them, you will find they can be replaced by mods, or you can do it yourself.

I could go on writing endlessly but few would bother to read. Short put there are very few things that are suboptimal in the game (children and school could work better and the immanent story aspects could have longer arcs, and relate even better with the sandbox game). I personally haven't tried the DLC, aspects of that looks cool, others look like they may be - a bit much? But maybe when I actually manage to launch into space in the base game I'll get the Royalty DLC.

If you like hardship and/or survival; if you like colony/base building games, if you like exploration sandbox games where you can DIE DIE DIE, then this may well be the only game you will need for some years to come.

Just having played it a bit in a free week-end, I don't think the full price is justified. The roads are as uncooperative as I recall from the 5th (although being able to build bridges is nice), and although there are some more building classes, and you can customize the Palace (which is nice, but with still too few options) I don't think there's enough here to justify the price.
Oh, and the stealing wonders thing? I think that's the most outrageously silly thing Calypso ever came up with. Whomever came up with that must have had a ♥♥♥♥♥ up audience. Maybe it works for you, but I just feel it is trashy. And it must get repetative once you go down there. In fact, I probably won't ever buy this game, and it is probably because of the nabbing wonders functionality. But what a nice metaphor for the gaming industry.

Have not played through it yet, but can't recommend this for any lovecraftian fans, nor can I recommend any newbies to the universe play it. Main reason is that in a very short time the dialogue options (what little there actually is) is surprisingly peppered with anachonisms, and meta-joking, like the yo-yo reference. Yeah, whatever. What, are we gonna have a meta-argument with a client over her using a word for an activity that is not a thing for another 50-60 years? SERIOUSLY?

And conversely, this game "suffers", or "is guilty" of what so much of CofC is doing; frontloading. Heard of Innsmouth? Wanna go explore? Well, here is the entire plot behind their darkest conspiracies, you know, that keepers section only, and in 20 minutes you have spoiled YEARS of potential material for joy if exploited PROPERLY. I doubt these devs even cursory read through the CofC sourcebook (I know CofC is not Lovecraft, but still, if you want plot hooks for your setting that are, you know, original, that's a good place to start).

And finally, I find it pretty railroady. I know it is a novel, not really a game, but when even the idiotic no-options reroutes you back to main quest, instead of some catastrophic failure, that is BOTH too much handholding, and too little choice. Which is why I rarely ever buy these kinds of games, just felt tempted by the sale and theme. But as said, for any SERIOUS person, this is a hard no. If you felt like Day of the Tentacle is a bit too serious, this is right up your ally, again just not a game though.

First impressions; got this title on a massive 70% summer sale - after having been watching it for a while, it going on and off my wishlist, some of the negative reviews putting me off, while the style and take on the genre kept me hopeful.

After having played for a li'l under a half hour I am so far very favorably surprised - for an indie title. The art style is both simplistic, suited to the culture and period, and nice enough that it is not ugly to look at. The cities and landscape is actually quite nice, and the illustrations are very nice and immersive.

There is not a lot of "stuff" happening on the screen, that is, flashy graphics and foes charging across battlefields, so if you need that sort of thing to be kept engaged, you may find the pacing and event/resource management core gameplay a bit dull perhaps, but I find it remind me of the oldtimes Sid Meyer Civilization games. Hit end, new turn. Actually, with the notifications popping up as buttons I feel it is a cross between Civnet, Civilization 6 and an indie Egypt civilization sim.


I was worried it would be linear, railroady and not replayable. As if it was Kalypso's Tropico in ancient times. So far it seems it may be very much replayable, and you seem to be able to choose how railroaded by historical events you want the game to be. So it looks rigged perfectly brilliantly - like ANY GAME SHOULD BE; you can play sandbox, you can play a "historical campaign", there is even a pedagogic educational mode.


After my very brief stint so far I've only encountered some very minor writing errors (or inconsistencies), and I would wish that Pg Up and Down or Z &X could be used to zoom, because my mouse is not good, and the lap top isn't better.



In sum; Very nice historical sim, would recommend - also at full price.

Overpriced and underwhelming, pales in comparison to Warband. MAY be better when out of early access, but there is NO REASON why anyone should get it before it is on 50% sale in the far future

Preliminary review:
Would I RECOMMEND it? No. Haven't played it enough yet though but - impressions so far;
I hate Uplay, I think it is a terrible horrendous rape of a practice to demand me make an account so they can track me for a product I have bought through Steam. And frankly, Steam shouldn't tolerate it.

PS: After I got this game, somehow Uplay has started sending punchnotifications to my MOBILE PHONE with "news" - like the inane "news" we get from MSN and the like. "Last night this six year old girl was abducted." "This many patients do not get treated properly at your local hospital (which is of course nobody's local hospital), CRICKET (WHO WATCHES THAT??!) What the ♥♥♥♥, and why the hell? And besides, their AI for targeted advertisement MUST be among the WORST out there.

The game; the graphics are horribly dated, and the controls are cumbersome. I hope one will get used to them in a while, but so far it frankly feels more like a Disney produced walking simulator with OCCASIONAL interactions. And of course a lot of pointless cut-scenes where you have to load up a scene, walk a few meters, get an interaction (with NO player choice involved) and a new loadscreen. NO POINT TO THIS AT ALL. I will surely play it some more, but frankly, so far, not impressed. Not in the least.

And I hope Uplay die the cursed death of synergies